Causes of Constipation in Adults

A condition in which bowel evacuation does not occur for two days or more is considered constipation. The symptoms that appear at the same time (heaviness and pain in the abdomen, general weakness, flatulence) are very painful. With constipation, the large intestine ceases to contract normally to move stool to the rectum. If this happens systematically, then treatment is necessary, but first you need to find out the cause of constipation.

The main causes of constipation in adult women

The factors that lead to the appearance of constipation can be associated with both habits and lifestyle of a person, and with the presence of common diseases and malfunctions in the body that are not directly related to the intestine. Consider the most probable and common causes of frequent and chronic constipation:

1. Improper nutrition and water regime (alimentary constipation). In this case, delay or incomplete defecation is associated with the use of uniform, mechanically sparing food with fiber restriction and insufficient intake of fluid.
2. Decreased physical activity (hypodynamic constipation). The appearance of constipation often leads to low mobility, associated, for example, with sedentary work or with the observance of bed rest with certain diseases.
3. Exposure to chemicals. Constipation may occur as a result of taking certain medications or constantly intoxication with various chemicals. Most often, the stool is delayed when taking antacids, antidepressants, antihistamines , antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, antispasmodics, calcium preparations, and also with nicotine, lead, narcotic poisoning.
4. Disorders of the endocrine system. Problems with stools often occur when the hormonal background changes, with hypothyroidism, diabetes, menopause. The same can explain the reason for constipation before menstruation.
5. Diseases of the digestive system (reflex constipation). Difficulties of stools occur when violations of the processes of digestion of food and removal of its residues in diseases of the liver, pancreas, gall bladder, etc. In some cases, the dysfunction of other organs may affect the intestines.
6. Presence of obstruction in the large intestine (mechanical constipation). In this case, constipation is provoked by scars, tumors in the intestines, as well as congenital lengthening of the intestine (megacolon) or underdevelopment of the nerve plexuses in the thickness of the intestinal wall (Hirschsprung's disease). These pathologies cause intestinal obstruction .

Psychological causes of constipation

Special attention should be given to defecation disorders, which can not be explained by any physical problems. These are constipation due to pathologies of the nervous system or psychological disorders.

Depression, anxiety, stress, etc. are psychological factors predisposing to development functional constipation. This is because intestinal motility is regulated by special centers of the cortex of the brain. Failures can also be caused by tumors, inflammatory processes in the brain and spinal cord, traumas with the destruction of the integrity of nerve fibers.

In some cases, constipation occurs with conscious suppression and ignoring the urge to defecate. In this case, the presence of stool in the intestine ceases to serve as a signal to the reflex of its emptying. This problem can arise due to limited accessibility of the toilet, changing the habitual rhythm and lifestyle.